Man’s love for stories dates back from the earliest civilizations. Stories have endured the passage of time, with some becoming part of a nation’s culture. Some stories become immortal, and through them, their authors as well.
Lourdes “Chit” Estella-Simbulan was one of the pillars of the Philippines’ investigative journalism. Her investigative pieces shed light on socio-political issues, the most known of which were the series that exposed the excesses of then-President Joseph Estrada, leading to his ousting in 2001. However, her life was abruptly cut short when the cab she was riding in was rammed by 2 buses along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
Despite her sudden passing, her legacy lives on through the book, “Tatlong Kuwento Para Sa Batang Pilipino.” The three stories – “Ang Batang Matapang at ang Multong Duwag,” “Ang mga Mandirigma,” and “The Invisible Boy” – take young readers to a fantastical world, where otherworldly denizens mix freely with children. The book was published on August 19, coinciding with her 64th birthday through the efforts of Vera Files, a non-profit media organization that Chit founded in partnership with her friends in the industry.
“Chit was very close to children, especially to her nephews and niece. This book that she left for them will serve as a bridge to good memories, and the lessons that Chit imparted to them,” Gil Estella, Chit’s brother said. Chit wrote the stories in the late 90’s as a Christmas gift to them but it was only during the pandemic that a hard copy was found among her papers.
However, more than just a collection of children’s stories, the book is also a reflection of Chit’s experience as an investigative journalist. “The themes of her stories draw parallels to the articles Chit wrote as a journalist. There is always that conflict between good and evil, and themes of fear mongering, bullying and threats of violence. Through these stories, Chit opens the eyes of her readers to the issues in society,” Executive Director at Asian Center for Journalism and fellow investigative journalist Luz Rimban said.
“This book is a bright light in a time of darkness. It is a welcome break from all of the bad news around us: pandemic, poverty, disinformation, corruption, natural disasters and wars.
Chit’s message is clear and timely, despite having been written years ago — in challenging times, friends and the community have to come together to understand the problems and search for the solution. This is her gift to us on her birthday,” Rimban added.
